"Unacceptable Disgrace": Politicians Demand Federation President's Resignation After Italy's World Cup Calamity

Following Italy's repeated failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is facing calls for his resignation from political figures.

Italy's second-largest governing party, Lega, issued a press release stating, "Eliminated once again, no World Cup for Italy again: This is an unacceptable disgrace. Italian football must be fundamentally restructured, and that must begin with the resignation of Gabriele Gravina."

Gravina, however, is resisting calls for an immediate departure. "We have convened the board of the Football Federation for next week. I understand the demand for immediate resignations, but such decisions, according to the statutes, lie with the Federation's board," Gravina, who has led the FIGC since 2018, was quoted as saying in Italian media.

Future of Sporting Director Gianluigi Buffon Also Uncertain

Gravina further acknowledged that the "objective responsibility for this situation lies with the Football Federation, it lies with me." He described the situation as a "major crisis, Italian football needs fundamental reshaping." He stressed that this goes beyond just the federation after consecutive World Cup qualification failures: "There are the leagues, there are the clubs. Therefore, a more comprehensive discussion about what needs to change is required."

The future of sporting director Gianluigi Buffon is also unclear following the recent qualification setback. Buffon commented, "We need to take time after this defeat. The season ends in June. For the next three months, I will continue to be at the disposal of the Federation that has shown me confidence." He added, "Our goal was World Cup qualification. This failure is painful, and there's a risk that one might not react rationally due to the disappointment."